Quick Overview
- 1#1: Thinkific - A comprehensive platform to create, market, and sell online courses with unlimited students and no transaction fees on paid plans.
- 2#2: Teachable - Empowers creators to build and sell online courses with easy-to-use tools for course creation, payments, and student management.
- 3#3: Kajabi - All-in-one solution for creating online courses, websites, email marketing, and sales funnels to grow online businesses.
- 4#4: Podia - Simple platform for selling online courses, digital downloads, and memberships without monthly fees or transaction costs.
- 5#5: LearnWorlds - Advanced course builder with interactive features like quizzes, ebooks, and SCORM support for engaging online learning experiences.
- 6#6: New Zenler - All-in-one platform combining course creation, live classes, funnels, and marketing tools at an affordable price.
- 7#7: Mighty Networks - Build branded communities with integrated online courses, events, and membership features for deeper learner engagement.
- 8#8: Circle - Modern community platform with built-in course hosting, live rooms, and member management for course creators.
- 9#9: Uscreen - Video-first platform for monetizing on-demand courses and memberships with apps for TV, Roku, and mobile.
- 10#10: Kartra - Complete marketing platform with course hosting, funnels, email automation, and behavioral analytics for business growth.
Tools were ranked based on a blend of functionality (including course-building, marketing, and monetization capabilities), user-friendliness, quality of features (e.g., interactivity, integrations), and overall value, ensuring they deliver robust support for both new and experienced creators.
Comparison Table
This comparison table explores top create online courses software, including Thinkific, Teachable, Kajabi, Podia, LearnWorlds, and more, helping readers navigate options by key features, pricing, and usability. It simplifies the process of identifying the best platform for building, launching, and growing online courses tailored to their specific needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thinkific A comprehensive platform to create, market, and sell online courses with unlimited students and no transaction fees on paid plans. | specialized | 9.6/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Teachable Empowers creators to build and sell online courses with easy-to-use tools for course creation, payments, and student management. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Kajabi All-in-one solution for creating online courses, websites, email marketing, and sales funnels to grow online businesses. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | Podia Simple platform for selling online courses, digital downloads, and memberships without monthly fees or transaction costs. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 5 | LearnWorlds Advanced course builder with interactive features like quizzes, ebooks, and SCORM support for engaging online learning experiences. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 6 | New Zenler All-in-one platform combining course creation, live classes, funnels, and marketing tools at an affordable price. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Mighty Networks Build branded communities with integrated online courses, events, and membership features for deeper learner engagement. | other | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 |
| 8 | Circle Modern community platform with built-in course hosting, live rooms, and member management for course creators. | other | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 9 | Uscreen Video-first platform for monetizing on-demand courses and memberships with apps for TV, Roku, and mobile. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 10 | Kartra Complete marketing platform with course hosting, funnels, email automation, and behavioral analytics for business growth. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.4/10 |
A comprehensive platform to create, market, and sell online courses with unlimited students and no transaction fees on paid plans.
Empowers creators to build and sell online courses with easy-to-use tools for course creation, payments, and student management.
All-in-one solution for creating online courses, websites, email marketing, and sales funnels to grow online businesses.
Simple platform for selling online courses, digital downloads, and memberships without monthly fees or transaction costs.
Advanced course builder with interactive features like quizzes, ebooks, and SCORM support for engaging online learning experiences.
All-in-one platform combining course creation, live classes, funnels, and marketing tools at an affordable price.
Build branded communities with integrated online courses, events, and membership features for deeper learner engagement.
Modern community platform with built-in course hosting, live rooms, and member management for course creators.
Video-first platform for monetizing on-demand courses and memberships with apps for TV, Roku, and mobile.
Complete marketing platform with course hosting, funnels, email automation, and behavioral analytics for business growth.
Thinkific
specializedA comprehensive platform to create, market, and sell online courses with unlimited students and no transaction fees on paid plans.
No transaction fees on paid plans, allowing creators to retain 100% of course revenue minus standard payment processor fees.
Thinkific is a leading all-in-one platform for creating, hosting, marketing, and selling online courses without any coding required. It provides a drag-and-drop course builder, video hosting, quizzes, assignments, certificates, and drip content scheduling to engage learners effectively. Additionally, it includes powerful marketing tools like email campaigns, upsells, bundles, and payment processing to help creators scale their online education businesses.
Pros
- Intuitive no-code drag-and-drop course builder
- Unlimited courses, students, and bandwidth even on lower plans
- Comprehensive marketing, sales funnels, and community features
Cons
- Transaction fees on the Free plan (paid via Stripe)
- Advanced analytics and custom domains limited to higher tiers
- Fewer native integrations than some enterprise competitors
Best For
Course creators, coaches, and businesses seeking a scalable, user-friendly platform to build and monetize professional online courses.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans from $49/mo (Basic) to $499/mo (Expand) billed monthly, with annual discounts and 0% transaction fees on all paid plans.
Teachable
specializedEmpowers creators to build and sell online courses with easy-to-use tools for course creation, payments, and student management.
Integrated payment processing and upsell features that enable seamless course sales directly on your branded site
Teachable is a comprehensive platform designed for creators to build, host, market, and sell online courses without needing coding skills. It provides tools for uploading multimedia content, creating quizzes and certificates, managing student enrollments, and integrating payments via Stripe or PayPal. With customizable school sites and built-in marketing features like coupons and affiliates, it supports scaling from solo creators to full businesses.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop course builder
- No transaction fees on Pro and higher plans
- Robust marketing and analytics tools
Cons
- Transaction fees on Free and Basic plans
- Limited advanced customization without code
- No native community forum features
Best For
Educators and experts who want an easy-to-use platform to create and sell professional online courses to a global audience.
Pricing
Free plan with 10% + $1 transaction fees; Basic ($39/mo), Pro ($119/mo), Business ($199/mo) billed annually, with higher plans removing fees.
Kajabi
enterpriseAll-in-one solution for creating online courses, websites, email marketing, and sales funnels to grow online businesses.
Seamlessly integrated marketing funnels and email automation directly tied to course sales and student engagement
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform designed for creators to build, host, market, and sell online courses, memberships, coaching programs, and digital products. It combines course creation tools with website builders, email marketing, sales funnels, and payment processing in a single ecosystem. This eliminates the need for multiple third-party integrations, making it ideal for scaling online businesses.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform with no transaction fees
- Professional templates and robust marketing automation tools
- Advanced course features like drip content, quizzes, and community forums
Cons
- High pricing that may not suit beginners or small creators
- Steep learning curve for non-tech-savvy users
- Limited customization options without custom code
Best For
Established course creators and online entrepreneurs seeking a complete business-in-a-box solution for courses and memberships.
Pricing
Plans start at $149/month (Basic, billed annually at $119/mo), Growth at $199/mo ($159/mo annually), and Pro at $399/mo ($319/mo annually); 14-day free trial available.
Podia
specializedSimple platform for selling online courses, digital downloads, and memberships without monthly fees or transaction costs.
Zero transaction fees combined with built-in email marketing and community chat
Podia is an all-in-one platform designed for creators to build, market, and sell online courses, digital downloads, memberships, and webinars without needing multiple tools. It features a drag-and-drop course builder supporting videos, PDFs, and quizzes, along with integrated email marketing, payment processing, and affiliate programs. Podia stands out for its simplicity and lack of transaction fees, making it ideal for solopreneurs transitioning from free tools to professional sales.
Pros
- No transaction fees on paid plans, maximizing creator earnings
- All-in-one platform combining courses, memberships, and email marketing
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder with unlimited courses and students
Cons
- Limited advanced LMS features like certificates, branching paths, or robust grading
- Basic analytics compared to specialized course platforms
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced features like abandoned cart recovery
Best For
Solopreneurs and small course creators seeking a simple, fee-free all-in-one platform for courses and digital products.
Pricing
Mover ($39/mo annual), Shaker ($89/mo), Earthquaker ($199/mo); 14-day free trial, no transaction fees, unlimited everything on all plans.
LearnWorlds
specializedAdvanced course builder with interactive features like quizzes, ebooks, and SCORM support for engaging online learning experiences.
Interactive video player with embedded quizzes, CTAs, and notes for highly engaging course content
LearnWorlds is an all-in-one platform for educators and businesses to create, market, and sell online courses with professional branding. It features a drag-and-drop course builder supporting interactive videos, quizzes, certificates, and memberships. The platform also includes website building, email marketing automation, and community tools to engage learners and drive sales.
Pros
- Powerful drag-and-drop builder with interactive elements like video quizzes and notes
- Built-in marketing tools including funnels, coupons, and affiliate management
- White-label mobile app and responsive websites for branded learning experiences
Cons
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced features like custom domains and Zapier
- Steeper learning curve for non-tech-savvy users setting up complex schools
- No permanent free plan, only a 30-day trial
Best For
Educators and course creators building scalable online schools with integrated marketing and community features.
Pricing
Starter at $29/mo (annual), Pro Trainer $99/mo, Learning Center $299/mo (annual billing), plus custom enterprise plans.
New Zenler
specializedAll-in-one platform combining course creation, live classes, funnels, and marketing tools at an affordable price.
Seamless integration of sales funnels and email marketing directly into the course platform
New Zenler is an all-in-one platform designed for creating, hosting, marketing, and selling online courses, combining LMS features with website building, email automation, and sales funnels. It supports unlimited courses, students, and bandwidth across plans, with tools for quizzes, drip content, live classes, and community forums. Creators can build professional sites and automate marketing without needing external tools, making it a comprehensive solution for online education businesses.
Pros
- All-in-one platform eliminates need for multiple tools
- Unlimited courses, students, and bandwidth on all plans
- Built-in marketing automation and sales funnels
Cons
- Limited advanced customization options
- Fewer third-party integrations than competitors
- Customer support response times can vary
Best For
Solo creators and small teams seeking an affordable, integrated solution for course creation and marketing.
Pricing
Starter ($29/mo annual), Pro ($69/mo annual), Academy ($149/mo annual); 14-day money-back guarantee, no transaction fees.
Mighty Networks
otherBuild branded communities with integrated online courses, events, and membership features for deeper learner engagement.
Built-in community spaces that turn courses into interactive hubs with member discussions, feeds, and networking
Mighty Networks is an all-in-one platform for building online communities, memberships, and courses, allowing creators to deliver structured online courses with videos, PDFs, quizzes, and progress tracking. It stands out by blending course delivery with community features like discussion feeds, live events, and member networking to boost engagement. While versatile for multifaceted digital products, it's particularly suited for creators prioritizing interaction over standalone LMS functionality.
Pros
- Powerful community integration enhances course engagement with feeds, chats, and events
- Native mobile apps for iOS and Android provide seamless member access
- Flexible course builder with multimedia support, cohorts, and certifications
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers required for full course features
- Steeper learning curve due to extensive community tools
- Lacks some advanced LMS analytics and automation compared to dedicated course platforms
Best For
Course creators and coaches who want to build engaged communities around their online courses rather than just deliver content.
Pricing
Starts at $49/month (billed annually) for Community plan; $119/month for Courses plan with advanced features; custom Mighty Pro pricing from $500/month.
Circle
otherModern community platform with built-in course hosting, live rooms, and member management for course creators.
Native blending of course content with real-time community tools like live rooms and chat for immersive learning experiences
Circle is an all-in-one community platform that enables creators to build and host online courses alongside interactive spaces like discussions, live events, and member chats. It supports structured course creation with video lessons, quizzes, assignments, drip scheduling, and certificates, all within a modern, customizable interface. While powerful for engagement-driven learning, it's optimized more for community building than standalone course delivery.
Pros
- Seamless integration of courses with live events and community forums for high engagement
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder and mobile-responsive design
- Robust member management, analytics, and integrations like Stripe and Zapier
Cons
- Course-specific features lag behind dedicated platforms like Teachable (e.g., limited advanced assessments)
- Higher pricing makes it less ideal for courses-only use
- Steeper learning curve for full community features if not needed
Best For
Educators and creators who want to combine online courses with thriving, interactive communities.
Pricing
Professional plan starts at $99/month ($89/month annually); Business at $219/month ($199 annually); Enterprise custom; 14-day free trial.
Uscreen
specializedVideo-first platform for monetizing on-demand courses and memberships with apps for TV, Roku, and mobile.
Custom-branded native apps for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV
Uscreen is an all-in-one platform tailored for video creators to build membership websites featuring on-demand videos, live streaming, and structured online courses. It provides tools for course creation with drip content, quizzes, and bundles, alongside community forums, email marketing, and integrated payments. While versatile for video-heavy content, it excels in monetizing ongoing subscriptions rather than one-off course sales.
Pros
- Superior video hosting, streaming, and adaptive playback
- Native mobile (iOS/Android) and TV apps (Roku/Apple TV) included
- Comprehensive membership tools with payments and analytics
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with subscribers, can get expensive
- Less specialized for non-video courses compared to dedicated LMS platforms
- Limited advanced assessment and certification features
Best For
Video content creators and coaches building subscription-based memberships with courses, like fitness trainers or online studios.
Pricing
Starts at $69/mo (annual billing) for Launch plan (up to 100 subscribers), $149/mo for Growth, $349/mo for Scale; per-subscriber fees apply on higher tiers, no transaction fees.
Kartra
enterpriseComplete marketing platform with course hosting, funnels, email automation, and behavioral analytics for business growth.
Seamless integration of course delivery with automated sales funnels and behavioral email triggers based on student activity
Kartra is an all-in-one marketing and sales platform that includes a robust course builder for creating online courses with video hosting, quizzes, assignments, and progress tracking. It integrates seamlessly with email marketing, sales funnels, memberships, and payment processing, allowing users to build, launch, and monetize courses without switching tools. While not a dedicated course platform, its comprehensive features make it suitable for entrepreneurs handling multiple aspects of online education.
Pros
- All-in-one platform combining course creation with marketing automation and sales funnels
- Unlimited courses, videos, and bandwidth on all plans
- Advanced behavioral analytics and student engagement tracking
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Higher pricing compared to dedicated course platforms
- Limited advanced LMS features like drip content scheduling or SCORM support
Best For
Course creators and online business owners seeking an integrated solution for building, marketing, and selling courses alongside other digital products.
Pricing
Starts at $99/month (Starter, up to 2,500 contacts) billed annually, up to $499/month (Platinum, 50,000+ contacts); all plans include unlimited courses and pages.
Conclusion
The top 10 online course platforms offer diverse strengths, with Thinkific leading as the top choice—boasting a comprehensive set of tools for creation, marketing, and selling without transaction fees. Teachable and Kajabi follow closely, excelling in user-friendly course building and all-in-one business integration, respectively, providing strong alternatives for varied needs.
Begin your journey by trying Thinkific; its robust features make it an ideal starting point to build and grow your online courses, whether you’re new to teaching or expanding your existing platform.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison